According to Mayem MLA Anant Shet, the meeting on Wednesday was especially organised to look into the formalities of resolving the issue. Discussions were held on several aspects, including the distribution of residential and field areas, how to go about the survey and problems that could arise during the process. The CM stated that the issue had to be properly handled to avoid further legal problems.
Earlier, the Parrikar-led government had notified the Goa (Abolition of Proprietorships, Titles and Grants of Lands) Act, 2014 and an assent was given by Governor Om Prakash Kohli.
When asked about the meeting, the Mayem Bhu Vimochan Nagrik Kruti Samiti president Kashinath Mayekar said, “We did not have any formal communication from the government. We just heard that the government is coming up with rules and regulations to solve the custodian issue. It is surprising that we are kept in the dark.”
He said that the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had several meetings with the samiti before implementing the Act, but this time the locals were sidelined. He said, “We demand that the samiti be taken into confidence before the rules are formed to solve the issue.”
Wednesday’s meeting was held at the CM’s office and was also attended by Chief Secretary R K Srivastav, Undersecretary Gadkar, Joint Secretary (law) Sharad Marathe, Collector Neela Mohanan, Undersecretary Raut Desai, Undersecretary (Home) Harish Adkonkar and Bicholim Mamlatdar Gurudas Desai.
